-๑-๑ ๑- Chapter 35: Someone- -๑ ๑-๑-

And with that Izaya was quiet again.

Minutes passed, cars drove by and slowly but surely raindrops started to decorate the street next to the two.

It wasn't like Shizuo didn't want to talk, but he had a feeling the raven needed that peace for a moment.

And besides, their hands connecting in between the two was enough to at least ensure that he wasn't fucking anything up right now.

He had been given a simple instruction. To just not ask too much.

Of course that didn't keep his brain from wondering just what it was that tormented the flea to the degree he looked at him the way he had. The bruises came back to mind, the ones he saw in the changing room, during their trip and in his room when the raven had visited him.

It was just a hunch, call it his guts, but he had a feeling whatever it was that troubled the flea had to do with those.

Maybe he had gotten himself caught up in something too big to swallow.

Feeling the wetness of the rain tickle his nose, the blond sneezed.

"How are those studies progressing?," the raven suddenly questioned, snapping the blond out of his thoughts.

He wanted distraction.

At least for now. He was interested, that wasn't even a lie, but in the first line he just wanted the blond to talk. Tell him something, anything, just so that he could ignore that nauseating feeling in his stomach a little bit longer.

"You mean history?" the blond questioned, albeit a little hesitant. It just took that much for the raven to figure it hadn't gotten any better.

"That bad?" Shizu-chan shrugged, "Kinda yeah, maybe I'm just not cut out for school." But Izaya knew this was bothering him more than he was letting on.

"Aw come on Shizu-chan, it's just a few exams, you can study for the next ones and everything will be fine again."

"It's not only that," Shizu-chan sighed softly, "I mean, don't get me wrong, you really helped me with your advice."

The raven swallowed softly.

Yeah.

With a study session that his father had disliked.

"But with my temper I wonder sometimes what the hell I'm even trying to do here," Shizuo tried to explain, "They tolerate me at school, for reasons I don't really get, but anything else?"

Heh.

"Scared you won't find a job?"

"Kinda."

It was refreshing. That kind of thought, that is.

Izaya had never really considered what he was going to do once he was done with school. Probably something that would earn him a fair amount of money. But he had never had the fear of not finding a job at all- or rather he hadn't considered Shizu-chan would.

"Woah Shizu-chan, you do know we still have a bit until we can worry about that right?" he tried to joke, in an attempt to cheer the blond up a bit. Futile though it seemed as Shizu-chan merely shrugged.

"You think my temper is gonna get better till we finish school?"

Not really.

Izaya wasn't going to say that out loud however.

"So what?" he shrugged, "You can try dozens of jobs and you will find one that doesn't annoy or tilt you to the point you deconstruct your workplace. And besides," a mischievous smile spread along his lips, "In the worst case I can just hire you or something."

"You?" Shizuo raised an eyebrow a little amused.

"I'm hella smart Shizu-chan. I'm not sure yet what I want to do after school, but it will be something good. Something with a high earning, nice position- Manipulating humans is something I already do on a mild scale, now imagine an adult version of myself, I bet I can get whatever the hell I want."

An adult flea, huh?

Certainly.

Looking at how smart he was already and his way of handling people he could see what Izaya was getting at.

"Wow, confident." Compared to him he was going to find his way easily and learn whatever it took to do what he wanted.

"I just know my strengths," the raven shrugged, that hand holding his own tightening a bit. "Maybe you just need to find yours."

Shizuo didn't really know if it were the words or just how close they were standing to each other, but the action somehow made his chest feel warm.

"Great you are the one that would need some cheering up and yet you ended up comforting me," he sighed, looking at the flea in question, only for the expression he had worn to drop.

A shrug followed as izaya averted his gaze.

Ah, there it was again.

That feeling of doom clutching his lungs so hard he had trouble breathing.

He could see his house from here.

He was there.

He felt nauseous.

"Are you okay?" Shizu-chan suddenly questioned, a frown having appeared on his face. Heh. That guy was way too perceptive for his own good.

A quick shrug followed and the raven wormed out of the blond´s grasp before he was going to notice how his hands had started to shake.

"Of course," he assured quickly, trying to muster a smile, but somehow his lips just didn't move that way.

"Izaya?" It was then that a sigh left the raven´s lips as he let his head thump against the blond´s shoulder.

"Sorry just a little." Eyes closed he just stayed there.

Confusion, along with worry instantly spiked in Shizuo´s mind, but he tried to refrain from asking anything that would make the flea withdraw from him again.

He was obviously seeking comfort.

The reason for that question was what caused Shizuo´s mind to run crazy.

Letting his arms circle around the smaller male Shizuo let his face rest in the flea´s neck.

The effect that move had on the raven was one of relief.

It was okay.

It was going to be fine.

Shizu-chan was here. And he would be there tomorrow morning again. Just as usual. Everything would stay the same.

Izaya could feel the blond brush over his hair in an attempt to soothe him- and he let it be.

Just for now.

He didn't have it in him to push the blond away.

Well- but it seems Shizu-chan did as he did exactly that.

Confused, Izaya looked at the blond who was now holding out his empty hand.

"Phone," a confused blink followed as the raven looked at the blond, "Yours, give it to me."

Not questioning the request, Izaya actually did as told.

Taking it, the blond typed away for a few seconds, using both hands and Izaya found it mildly amusing to add that fact to his collection of small details about the blond.

"There," he suddenly said, offering the phone back to him. Glancing at the screen, he could spot a new contact by the name Shizu-chan.

"If anything is up you can call me."

Unexpected warmth engulfed the raven's chest at the gesture.

Warmth- and at the same time fear.

Shizu-chan was worried.

Of course, he knew he had been, all the time, but this- it just showed him once again just how much Shizu-chan cared. And how dangerous that was.

"I didn't even know you had a phone," he mumbled softly, not quite sure what to make of this.

"I don't like writing or calling in general, but mum got me one to carry around, just in case," the blond explained, picturing a very vivid doting mother inside Izaya's head.

Haha.

Just like his, right? If she knew what was going on when she wasn't home…

"She is probably worried about you," Izaya found himself mumbling, his gaze still directed at his phone´s screen as he let it slip inside his pants pocket.

"Yeah," guilt sprawled across Shizu-chan´s features. "Anyway, now you have it and make sure you use it."

The raven lifted his gaze.

So sweet.

Honestly.

The blond kept offering him the sweetest chances. Yet he knew he could never make use of them. That didn't keep him from feeling a soothing kind of warmth spread through his chest.

"I will."

Quick, like a butterfly's wing his lips grazed Shizu-chan´s before he turned around.

"See you tomorrow Shizu-chan."

And with that he took off.

A glance was cast over his shoulder.

Shizu-chan was grinning.

Waving even.

"See you."

He looked like the happiest guy alive.

Funny- compared to how Izaya started to feel the moment he stood at the front door of his house.

Shizuo was no longer in sight and the nausea returned with full blast.

Trying to diminish it the raven took a deep breath.

Afterwards.

He felt a soft smile spread across his cheeks.

After whatever his father had planned for him he could call Shizu-chan. Just to talk. Maybe tease him some.

He bet the blond would pick up instantly, maybe even break his phone or something by accident, trying to pick up.

No matter what his father was planning on doing, he could think about that.

It would make things easier.

Yeah.

It really would.

Taking a deep breath the raven placed his hand on the doorknob.

And pressed down.

Silence greeted him as soon as he stepped inside the house.

His mother wasn't home, she was on a trip again and Mairu and Kururi were staying at a friend's place, he knew that much. Of course he did.

Otherwise his father couldn't have announced his torture a day beforehand.

Dropping his school-bag in the entrance he shrugged off his jacket.

It was still weird.

Why wait a whole day? His father had always been impatient, quick to get mad and act on his urges. But planning his punishment was just so out of character it spooked the raven.

And why the hell was it so quiet in here?

Was he not home?

A spark of hope grander than anything ignited inside his chest as the raven approached the living room with quick steps.

And suddenly he saw them.

"Izaya."

The man.

The man that had tried to pick him up from school.

"If I may introduce you, this is an old friend of mine,"

There was money on the desk, bottles of booze as well.

Confusion overwhelmed every other emotion momentarily as the raven tried to access the information presented.

An old friend? Was that why he wanted to pick him up?

The hope started to grow- because, as long as witnesses were present, didn't that mean his father had to put on hold whatever he had planned?

A polite nod was directed towards the stranger as the thoughts raced through Izaya's head.

"Nice to meet you," he mumbled softly, still too perplexed to actually understand what was going on.

His father got up from the chair- walked over- and Izaya flinched for just a moment, thinking that he was going to do- something, whatever- he raised his hand, and he never did so out of kindness.

And yet he did.

All of a sudden that hand was resting on his shoulder.

His father's hand.

"That's my son, I told you about."

He was merely introducing him properly.

Izaya didn't understand what was going on.

Maybe his father had forgotten? He had always acted rash, on impulse, announcing any form of punishment was off- so maybe he had just said that without any real intention?

Izaya felt light, somehow relieved, and yet just nauseous. He was in a limbo. Not sure what to think.

But if his coworker was here there was no way he was going to do anything.

Right?

Maybe his plans had been scratched, whatever they had been.

"You didn't lie about him being a beauty," the stranger suddenly said- and Izaya's stomach churned.

"Only the best for you as I said," tight. Tighter. A knot formed inside his stomach so hard he wanted to throw up.

His skin was sweaty, his mouth dry.

"Excuse me?" A step was taken backwards, instinctively- only to notice that his father was blocking the way to the front door.

"Izaya, show him to your room."

And suddenly the scenery in front of him just dipped into horror.

No.

No.

This guy- the money-

The alcohol.

The way he had looked at him from inside that car. The way he looked at him now, getting up from his seat.

The tent.

Inside his pants.

Adrenaline surged in Izaya's veins as he tore himself from his father´s grasp in what must have been an unexpected burst of raw force. He reached out, wanted to grasp the raven by his shirt as he dashed up the stairs- because the entrance was blocked- the entrance-

His father had blocked it on purpose.

The flight of stairs passed by half running, half crawling as he put every ounce of strength he had into one single thought.

Get.

Away.

He could hear his father´s heavy steps, rushing right after-

Hard-

Loud-

Izaya´s thumb brushed over the dial button on his phone as he slammed the door shut, pressing his back right into it.

But there was no key.

He had never owned one- because god beware he locked himself away from his father.

The call connected-

"Shiz-!"

The door burst open at practically the same time- a fist connecting violently with Izaya's face as he was sent to the ground.

"Fucking little bitch, who were you calling, huh?"

Haze started to cloud Izaya's sight- a wave of vertigo overwhelmed him as his eyes searched- searched for this phone.

But then he saw it.

And a choked sob wrecked his body.

It was broken.

On the ground.

Just when, just where- he didn't know, maybe his father stepped on it-

but it was.

His only hope to call for help.

His only hope to get away.

Tremors wracked his body almost instantly as his skin broke out in a cold sweat.

"Who cares. He said nothing," the stranger suddenly said.

"Good."his father answered- and yet everything just suddenly seems so dull to the raven.

Some more words were spoken- but none of that was perceived as Izaya's stare fixed itself onto the floor.

From the corner of his eyes he could see clothing drop.

Not his own, but the strangers.

He forced himself to not look up.

Not look at the guy.

They were still talking.

And suddenly it was quiet.

Only the sound of the door locking reached his ears.

His father had left.

"Now baby, show me a good time, will ya?" the stranger was approaching. As if having triggered some fight or flight reaction the raven suddenly snapped out of it- his gaze wandering anywhere but the man´s body as he rushed to his window-

Different from the front door it didn't face the street, but a channel- he would jump- he would simply jump.

Get away. Yes.

He jerked at the window.

Out of here.

He pulled.

And pulled.

Why did it not open?

Nails.

Nails inside the window frame.

Before he knew it a hand was grabbing him from behind, forcing him to the ground.

"Be good, won´t you?" The raven jerked, shoved at the guy, pushed, hit, kicked with all the might his body could provide- but no chance. The guy was heavy, tall and strong compared to a middle schooler.

"Stop it-!" Izaya screamed- "Get off me!" An angry glare flared up and the raven bit down on whatever it was that came into sight. A groan followed- it had been his arm.

And a hit followed, to the side of his head causing the flea to lose his sight for just a moment as he felt his body thud top the side.

Fast- he had to get up fast-

Palms pressing against the floor he pushed himself up- only for a foot to step on his wrist.

A sickening crack filled the air as Izaya choked on excruciating pain.

"Stop struggling or your left one is next," were the words he heard next and a fist grabbed him by his hair before forcing his head up.

"You better make my dick hard and wet cause I am sure as hell not preparing you-"

Too much.

He tasted the salty liquid before he realized he was crying.

Too much.

He didn't want this-

Someone-

No- no

Someone please-

Too much.

No-

He didn't want this-

He could take the beating- he could take the screaming but.

No.

"Oh come on stop whining-"

And suddenly there was a noise.

Loud.

A crash- coming from what unmistakably had to be his room´s door.

In the door frame- a panting Shizu-chan.

to be continued~

SORRY

I took WAY to fucking long for this update I swear to god- but I am back on track! xD I got some plot down and some good scenes ahead and holy crap I will not take another 2 fucking years to update omg

Also it would be more than just cruel to leave you hanging for too long on THAT cliffhanger xD

The next update WILL be out on 31st of October 3 3 3 Halloween time haha

Big big promise 3